Combined launcher and dart with depth gauge



Nov. 1, 1966 J- K E 3,282,262

COMBINED LAUNCHER AND DART WITH DEPTH GAUGE Filed May 28, 1963 2s 2s 2427 f I/ XPZB INVENZOR JamesGSkmnez' United States Patent 3,282,262COMBINED LAUNCHER AND DART WITH DEPTH GAUGE James C. Skinner, 3221Sherman Court, Anderson, Ind. Filed May 28, 1963, Ser. No. 283,819 6Claims. (Cl. 124-5) This invention relates to amusement devices, and,more particularly, to that class of amusement devices that areassociated with toys rather than games and the like.

Man is forever seeking new and more attractive devices for amusement,devices that will, if possible, appeal not only to children but also togrown-ups as well. In the quest for new and novel amusement devices, onemust not only try to produce a device that requires a certain amount ofphysical skill, but also a device that can be manufactured and retailedat a price attractive to anyone who may want something different in theway of amusement devices. At the same time the article must be safe touse and fairly rigid in construction.

While many different forms of amusement devices have been producedthroughout the ages, none have held the attention of the public longernor provided as much fun as amusement devices of the dart type. Dartsalways require a certain amount of skill, skill that is even moreimportant when they are launched from some form of a holder held in oneshand and literally thrown towards the target.

It is, therefore, the main object of this invention to provide anamusement device of the dart and launcher type that is not only entirelynew and novel in its construction, but also a device that is safer touse than anything yet placed on the open market.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device inthe form of a dart and its launcher that does not have any mechanical orelectrical mechanism to get out of order.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device inthe form of a dart that can be sent on its way from a launcher which canbe manufactured in many different forms, as disclosed in the followingspecification and claims.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device inthe form of a dart and its launcher that can be used both indoors andout-of-doors with equal success.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device inthe form of a dart and its hand launcher that can be used against anydesired target.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an amusement devicethat can be adapted to launch toy rockets from launching sites as wellas propelling them from the hand.

Other and further objects and advantages of this amusement device willbe hereinafter described, and the novel features thereof defined in theappended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the dart portion of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of that portion of FIGURE 1 that isenclosed within the arrowed circle and indicated by the numeral 2 onFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an underside view of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side view. of an optional method of constructingthat detail of the dart known as its projection.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of that part of this invention known as thelauncher.

FIGURE 6 is an edge view of the launcher of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of another form of the launcher.

3,282,262 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of thelaunching end of FIGURE 5, with a loop at the free end of the cord.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of one form of this invention being heldin the hand and ready for the launching of the dart.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the optional form of this inventionwhich is also shown in FIGURE 7 ready for use.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there is generallyindicated by the character 15 a typical dart that is one of the twomajor parts of this invention. The dart consists of a shaft 16 havingwhat I personally call a sponge rubber depth gauge 17, adjustablymounted on the aforesaid shaft 16, which will allow the shaft topenetrate a given target only to the desired depth, as will be describedlater on in this specification. A solid rubber tip 18, that has the sideview configuration of an equilateral triangle, is secured to one end ofthe shaft 16. This solid rubber tip can be so manufactured as to leave amark on the target, if so desired. A plurality of stabilizing fins 19are secured to the opposite end of the aforesaid shaft 16, which isprovided with a diagonal recess 20, that has a rounded end 21terminating in the center of the shaft and towards the solid rubber tip18, as shown in FIGURE 1 of the appended drawing. This recess 20 isadapted to receive the end of the launcher portion of this invention.The recess 20 can be replaced by the downwardly and backwardly extendingprojection 22, as shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, if it is sodesired.

The second major portion of this invention is the launcher 23. Thisdevice consists of a body member 24, having a handle 25 on one endthereof and the other end terminating in a concave portion 26, having anopening 27, through which is threaded a cord 28, that has a bead 29 or aring 30 on the outer end thereof; the other end 31 of the cord issecured to a coil spring 32 that has its lower end secured to thatportion of the aforesaid body member 24 that blends into the handle 25,as best illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the appended drawing.

In that form of the launcher 23 that is illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 10,the cord 28 is replaced by cord 33 terminating in a bead 34, after ithas passed through the opening 27 in the outer end of the body member24, rather than continue on down the body member and terminate in aconnection to the aforesaid coil spring 32. The body member shown inFIGURE 7 is constructed froinfiexible material as evidenced by thedashed lines 35 of the tip of the device.

The way in which this new and novel amusement device is used is asfollows. The launcher 23 or 23' is held in one hand by its handle 25,with the upper portion of the launcher protruding between the thumb andindex finger, and the bead 29 or the ring 30 toward you. With the otherhand, pick up the dart 15 by its shaft 16 with the stabilizing fins 19towards your body, place the bead 29 or ring 30 in the recess 20 or onthe downwardly extending projection 22. Place the shaft 16 in theconcave portion 26 of the body member 24 or 24 of the launcher 23, andthen point the dart 15 at whatever target you are aiming at. Then,holding the shaft 16 just back of the stabilizing fins 19, pull back andrelease the shaft. This is, of course, a game of skill, and the morepractice, the better scores one will make.

This invention can have the handle 25 of the launcher 23 or 23' adaptedto securement to a stationary base for the launching of toy rockets, ifso desired.

It is to be realized that this invention can be made from any desiredmaterial or combination of materials, that many variations may be madein its detail design, and

that the invention will still fall within the spirit and intent of theappended claims.

It may be well to call ones attention at this time to that part of thisinvention of mine which I have called the dart 15. Technically speaking,a dart is normally considered to be a device having a maximum length ofsix inches; however, due to the fact that this part of this inventioncharacterized in the drawing by the aforesaid reference numeral 15 hasthe same parts and same basic configuration as that of a dart with theexception of the actual length of the shaft 16, I have taken the libertyto call this part of my invention a dart throughout this specificationand its appended claims.

Having now described my invention of an amusement device, the way inwhich the same is constructed in its preferred and suggested optionalforms, and the way in which the same is used, what I now claim as myinvention is:

1 An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having ashaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip anda sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behindthe said tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured aplurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having means of temporarysecurement to the said launcher, the said launcher embodying a bodymember having its lower end terminated in a handle and the upper endadapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, thereby providing meansof launching the said dart at a predetermined target by movements ofones hand.

2. An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having ashaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip anda sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behindthe saids-tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secureda plurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having means oftemporary securement to the said launcher, the said launcher embodying abody member having its lower end terminated in a handle and the upperend being concaved and adapted to receive the shaft of the said dart,thereby providing means of launching the said dart at a predeterminedtarget by movements of ones hand.

3. An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having ashaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip anda sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behindthe said tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured aplurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having an angularlydisposed recess therein for temporary securement of the said dart to thesaid launcher, the said launcher embodying a body member having itslower end terminated in a handle and the upper end being concaved andadapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, thereby providing meansof launching the said dart at a predetermined target by movements ofones hand.

4. An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having ashaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip anda sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behindthe said tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured aplurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having an angularlydisposed projection extending downward and backward towards the saidstabilizing fins in order to provide temporary securement of the saiddart to the said launcher, the said launcher embodying a body memberhaving its lower end terminated in a handle and the upper end beingconcaved and adapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, therebyproviding means of launching the said dart at a predetermined target bymovements of ones hand.

5. An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having ashaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip anda sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behindthe said tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured aplurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having an angularlydisposed recess therein for temporary securement of the said dart to thesaid launcher, the said launcher embodying a body member having itslower end terminated in a handle and the upper end being concaved andadapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, thereby providing meansof launching the said dart at a predetermined target by means of a cordhaving one end secured to a bead adapted to the angularly disposedrecess in the said shaft, the said cord passing through an opening inthe upper end of the said body member and extending down the said bodymember to the upper end of a coil spring, that has its lower end securedto the lower end of the said body member and above the said handle.

6. An amusement device embodying a dart, a launcher, said dart having ashaft, on one end of which is secured a triangular, solid rubber tip anda sponge rubber depth gauge movably mounted on the said shaft and behindthe said tip, and the other end of the said shaft, on which is secured aplurality of stabilizing fins, the said shaft having an angularlydisposed projection extending downward and backward towards the saidstabilizing fins in order to provide temporary securement of the saiddart to the said launcher, the said launcher embodying a body memberhaving its lower end terminated in a handle and the upper end beingconcaved and adapted to receive the shaft of the said dart, therebyproviding means of launching the said dart at a predetermined target bymeans of a cord having one end secured to a ring adapted to theangularly disposed projection extending downward and backward from theshaft of the said dart, the said cord having its other end passingthrough an opening in the upper end of the said body member of the saidlauncher and terminating in a bead.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 736,759 8/1903Means.

876,324 1/l908 Brucker 273-1065 X 1,178.028 4/1916 Schlueter 12451,468,223 3/1923 Baltich 1245 2,691,973 10/1954 Hutson 273106.5 X2,976,042 3/1961 Barnett 273-1065 FOREIGN PATENTS 251,681 8/ 1948Switzerland.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE EMBODYING A DART, A LAUNCHER, SAID DART HAVING ASHAFT, ON ONE END OF WHICH IS SECURED A TRIANGULAR SOLID RUBBER TIP ANDA SPONGE RUBBER DEPTH GAUGE MOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE SAID SHAFT AND BEHINDTHE SAID TIP, AND THE OTHER END OF THE SAID SHAFT, ON WHICH IS SECURED APLURALITY OF STABILIZING FINS, THE SAID SHAFT HAVING MEANS OF TEMPORARYSECUREMENT TO THE SAID LAUNCHER, THE SAID LAUNCHER EMBODYING A BODYMEMBER HAVING ITS LOWER END TERMINATED IN A HANDLE AND THE UPPER ENDADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE SHAFT OF THE SAID DART, THEREBY PROVIDING MEANSOF LAUNCHING THE SAID DART AT A PREDETERMINED TARGET BY MOVEMENTS OFONE''S HAND.